If interested in having me for a reading, class visit, or conference/festival, please contact me at lorcaloca AT aol DOT com

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

The Theater of Night

Yeah! I just found out Alberto Rios has a new book of poems out. I can't wait to get my hands on it.

from "The Chair She Sits In"

I've heard this thing where, when someone dies,People close up all the holes around the house-The keyholes, the chimney, the windows, Even the mouths of the animals, the dogs and the pigs. It's so the soul won't be confused, or tempted. It's so when the soul comes out of the body it's been in, But which doesn't work anymore, It won't simply go into another oneAnd try to make itself at home, Pretending as if nothing happened...

Alberto Rios teaches at Arizona State University and is the author of eight books of poetry, three collections of short stories, and a memoir. His book The Smallest Muscle in the Human Body was nominated for the National Book Award in Poetry.